PlayStation Network gets game pre-loading functionality

Newsbrief: Sony has introduced a pre-buy system to its PlayStation Store, allowing PSN users to purchase and download certain games in preparation for release day.

With the new initiative, PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to download games prior to the release date, and play the moment the game is made available. The first game to use this new system is PlayStation Move-enabled Sorcery, due to be released next week.

The move is similar to digital distribution platform Steam's own pre-loading capabilities, by which PC gamers can download games before official release dates to ensure they are playable from the moment the game goes live.